NH reaches agreement on review of voting laws

CONCORD, N.H. (AP) — The U.S. Justice Department says New Hampshire should no longer have to submit its election law changes to federal officials before implementing them.

New Hampshire is among a group of states that are required under the Voting Rights Act of 1964 to submit any election law changes to the Department of Justice for review to determine whether they would result in racial discrimination. The state came under the act's purview because of poor voter turnout in 10 towns in the 1968 presidential election and because it still had a literacy test on the books at the time.

On Friday, the justice department said it has reached an agreement with the state to "bail out" all 10 towns. A judge now decides whether to approve the agreement.